Philosophy Department Colloquium Series presents Adam Cureton from the University
of Tennessee

Some Forms of Respect for People with Disabilities: A Kantian Perspective

Conceptions of moral respect that are inspired by Immanuel Kant have tended to focus
on how to properly respond to the inherent worth and dignity that all persons have
simply because they are persons. Kant recognized, however, that there is also a need
to investigate the “different forms of respect to be shown to others in accordance
with differences in their qualities or contingent relations” and to include these
applications of respect as part of “the complete presentation” of a comprehensive
moral system (MM 6:468-9). Unfortunately, Kant did not take on this important task
in a sustained or systematic way.

The aim of this essay is to begin interpreting, applying and supplementing basic features
of Kant’s moral framework in order to explain and justify what forms of respect are
appropriate for different kinds of persons in different types of contexts beyond those
forms of respect that we owe to all persons simply as persons. I approach this task
by focusing on the specific issue of how Kant’s conception of respect can be applied
to cases in which competent but disabled adults are regarded and treated as children.